UK Video Game Chart: Diablo 3 console release debuts at No.3

Saints Row 4 prevents Rome: Total War 2 from claiming the No.1 spot.

Saints Row 4 took a 48 per cent drop in sales week-on-week but still held on for a third week at No.1, Chart Track reports.

The outrageous sequel from Deep Silver sold only a few hundred units more than last week's new release Rome: Total War 2, which managed to move over 4,000 more copies than 2004's Rome: Total War managed on its first week.

Activision Blizzard's Diablo 3 was the week's second Tuesday launch, but the extra time in stores didn't help the former PC game chart any higher than No.3.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist dropped two places to No.4, while Disney: Infinity takes a 22 per cent hit and falls one place to No.5.

Killzone: Mercenary was a major new release for PS Vita, but os only the fifth best launch week for a PS Vita title, charting at No.8 .

Farming Simulator 2013 is the week's final Top 10 new release, coming in at No.10 for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Elsewhere, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn drops 80 per cent and falls to No.11, whilst Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate is new at No.35.

VideoGamer.com Analysis

Diablo 3's No.3 debut and inability to outperform Saints Row 4 in its third week has to go down as a failure for the game which has shifted over 10 million copies on PC. Activision backed the title with considerable marketing across all mediums – including TV – suggesting console gamers simply aren't connecting with the PC-focussed franchise.

New to stores on Friday are Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix and Puppeteer, but neither is likely to perform well enough to challenge the current chart toppers.